31. That our ixtextiox should be pure and always directed towards God

" Oculi mei semper ad Dominum, quoniam ipse evellet de laqueo pedes meosy]

" My eyes are ever towards the Lord ; fur he shall pluck my feet out of the snare. ^^ 1. In all thy thoughts, words, and actions, have always a right and pure intention towards God ; that so thou mayest do all things to His praise, honour and glory, and to the edification of thy neigh- | hour. For God is the source ofi all good, and the great giver of! eternal rewards ; and if thou wouldst not lose the fruit of thy labours, He alone ought to be the beginning and sole end of all thy good works : and if thou wert fully penetrated with the terror of God's righteous judgments, vanity would never take possession of thy heart.

2. Vain glory and a desire of being praised in public by all, is a most deadly poison. It is most excessive vanity, and certain indication of pride, and directly opposed to the grace of God.

What then wilt thou do ? or in whom wilt thou place thy hope and confidence ? Not surely in thyself, nor in man, nor in earthly creatures ; nor in the stars of heaven ; but in God alone, thy Creator, who made and sustains thee, as well as all created things, by the might of His right hand, and He needs none as help or support. Call out then, with the holy king David, " My eyes are ever towards the Lord ; for He shall pluck my feet out of the snare :"* adding these words, " Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hidden from thee."t 3. Renouncing then the deceitful consolations and counsels of men, fly in thy need unto thy God ; place all thy trust in Him ; call upon Him with fervent prayer and holy desires, for " He will pluck thy feet out of the snare, so that thou mayst be not moved out of the way " of virtue and true huo o mility, but persevere steadfastly in the service of God unto the end.

Every good work done for the sake of God, maketh the conscience glad, brings light to the mind, and meriteth a greater increase of grace ; but every bad action brings sorrow to him that commits it, stains his good name, and obstructs the influence of divine consolation.

He that doth anything through motives of vain glory, puts out his light with the wind of ostentation ; and he, who is virtuous that he may please men, and stand high in their esteem, shall quickly be overthrown by an angry God, and grovel in the mire.

Rejoice not then, like fools, in the smiles of the world, but rather let the sense of thy own frailty keep thee in the fear of God. Thy frequent falls and constant tendency [ o o to error, should teach thee to entertain an humble and mean opinion of thyself.

4. Beware of giving too much praise to any man in this life, for thou knowest not what he may become hereafter: neither rashly condemn him that falleth ; for touched by his tears, God may shortly grant him grace to rise again. Pray for all men, and commend all unto God.

Be vile in thine own eyes, so shalt thou be great in the sight of God, who hath respect to the hinnble, but knowing the proud afar off. He will suddenly cast him down.

If thou art despised by men, and if others are preferred before thee, be not cast down into the excess of sadness ; it is better and safer, doubtless, to be humbled by men, in company with the meek and simple, than to be cast off by God with the rich and the lofty-minded. o o Shun the praises of men ; fear to be exalted ; bhish at proffered honours ; fly from human respect ; strive rather to live secluded. Prefer, before all, the service due to God, the study of holy books, and perseverance in prayer.

That man is not without praise and honour, who, for the sake of God, despiseth praise and honour ; nor is he without consolation, who holdeth all the joys of this world as nothing, and who gladly endureth every thing contrary to his inclination, for the love of Christ, and whose daily aspirations and sighs are to be united to Him in heaven. o